Method of making castings, ingots, and the like.



P. E. MESTA.

METHOD OF MAKING OASTINGS, INGOTS, AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED 001210, 1906 93?,1 6%, Patented Oct. 19, 1909.

3 SHEETB-SHEET 1.

WEF'MESSES NVENTOR Mania]; 0? MARIN APPLIOATIOKFILIID OUT. 10, 1906. V

A 1 m u ,4\\ S 3 1 mm m n W F. E MESTA. METHOD OF MAKING OASTINGS, INGOTS, AND THE LIKE. APPLICATION FILED OUT. 10, 1906.

Patented Oct. 19, 1909.

3 SHEETB-SHBET 3.

TUNITED STAT S ENT onrrcn.

manner: a. MES'IA, or rrrrsnune, PENNsYnvANI-A, ASSIGNOR Tb'MESTA MACHINE coitrANY, or rxr'rsnone', PENNSYLVANIA,'A' CORPORATION or PENNSYLVANIA.

METHOD or MAKING Specification of Letters Patent; Application filed o'ctober 10, 19063 summit. saaae'i.

CASTINGS, INGOTS, AND THE LIKE.

Patented. Oct. 19, 1909.

To all'whom'z't meg concern:

He it known that 1", FREDERICK E. Men, of Pittsburg, Allegheny county, Pennsylvani'a', have invented a new and useful Me hod of Making Castings, Ingots, and the of which the following is a full, clear, and

ike,

enact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, formmg part of this specification, in which- Figures 1 and 2 are respectively plan and sectional views illustrating the application of .my method to thetreatment of an ingot; F ig. 3'is a vertical section showing the application of my invention toIthe treatment of a roll casting; Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view showing modified means 'for supplying air to the metal; and Fig. 5 is a sectional-view illustrating another method of carrying out my invention.

My invention relates to a method of making castings forthe purpose of preventing theformation therein of pipes or holes,

maintained in a fluid condition for a sufliand to enable the production of castings which shall be more solid and homogeneous than heretofore, especially in the upper portiomther'ebfl My invention is also designed to provide a method of this character which can be practiced at a comparatively small expense and without the use of expensive or cumbersome apparatus;-

As is well known great difficulty has here 'tofbre been experienced in obtamin casting's, particularly castings f of consi erable siz'e,.which are free from pipes or holes at the upper interior portions thereof, or at those portions where the metal cools last; such pipes or holes being caused by the gradual cooling of the metal from the outside toward the center, the resulting contraction leaving an interior space or hole at that portion which isthe last to cool. This cooling and contraction also set up strains in the castings,particularly where they are of irregular or non-uniform section. In my improved method, I overcome these difiiculties by supplying heat'i'n the upper portion of the casting after it has been poured and while it is cooling, whereby such portion is cient period of time to enable the casting to be fed with fluid metal as it cools. This heatmay be supplied in various ways, as

by means of gas or other burners or heaters H tori ed the sand mold 7.

applied to the flask or mold. I prefer, how

ever, to utilize for this purpose the heat generated by the combustion of silicon or carbon, or other combustible element or elements, contained in the cast metal itself, and for this purpose blow air thereon or there- ;1I1, the oxygen of which combining with the combustible elements of the metal'may enerate sufficient heat to maintainthe fluid composition of the metal thus treated, due.

to the combustion of some of its elements, I preferably feed the casting during the blowing operation with some material which will supply the necessary ingredients, such ashigh-sillcon pig, or manganese, the charactor and amount of such material fed being of course dependent upon the nature and 'COIfiPOSllIlOIl of the metal being cast.

, y improved method is particularl applicable to steel'castin s, but it may a so be used to'advantage wit 1 cast iron, brass and other metals.

In the drawings, I have illustrated the manner in which my invention is racticed.

The numeral 2 in Figs. 1 and 2 esignates an ingot mold which is in general of the usual character, but it is preferably provided at its upper portion wlth a refractory lining 3 for the purpose of enablin it to withstand the heat which is applie to or generated in the adjacent portion of the casting.

4 designates the body or ingot which ,is cast in the mold,and 5 is an air supply pipe. This pipe is preferably directed downward and'at one side, so as to cause the air to penetrate the metal with a whirling action. The nozzle portion of-this pipe may be a sleeve or nozzle of fire clay or other refr ctory material connected to a pipe or h se leading from any suitable source of air supply.

Fig.3 illustrates the application of my improved method to a roll casting. In this figure 6 designates the flask in which is p 8 designates a separate head 'or flask section in which'is means of which hot or cold gas or air or a being cast.

tormed a sink head for the casting. 9 designatcs the air supply pipe, and 10 is the roll instead of direc ing the air s 'ain st the surface of the molten metal as incicateil in Figs. 2 and 3, the air may be discharged within the body of metal as shown in Fig. 4, in which the numeral 10 the molten portion of the casting being treated, and 11 a perforated blowing headof retro-c tory. material which is connected with a suitable source of air supply.

Fig. 5 illustrates another method of carrying' out'my invention. In this figure, the numeral 12 designates a hood of castiron or other suitable material which is provided with a lining 13 of fire brick, clay, or other refractory material. 14c an inlet pipe, by

mixture of the same may be lown into the l hood. 1-5 is an opening for the burned gases to escape. The advantage of the hood is thatit retains more 01' the heat in the upper pot tion of the casting and also results in less oxidation of the metal by preveiiting it from contact with the open air. Less slag will also be formed.

As soon as the casting has been poured, t 1e hood is placed over the upper end of the flask,.and the electrode 20 is placed in the upper end of the runner or spout. The oi? cult is then closed, which forms an electric are between the end of the carbon electrode and the upper end of the casting. By this means a very high heat can be obtained, and the upper end of the casting maintained in a liquid state until its lower end is practically cooled, thus allowing the liquid metal to flow downward as the cooling and contracting of the main body of the roll takes place.

The nethod herein described should be applied to castings as soon as possible after the pour has been completed. By thus main taining the metal in the upper portion of the casting, or in the sink head, in a fluid condition, While the main portion of the casting g is cooling, the solidification of the casting is caused to take place from the bottom upward, and there is produced a solid costing substantially free from pipes and other internal defects.

My invention is applicable to castings of all descriptions. In the case of castings having several recesses or sink heads, heat may seams be ap lied to each of them in the manner descri ed.

What. I claim is:-

1. The herein described method. of castlug "which consists in pourin the mold and maintaining portions of the ct urge in'e fluid condition by the generation of heat therein, while other portions of the charge are coolng; substantially as described.

2. The he ein described method of casting, which consists iirpouring mold, and supplying air and't e necessary ingredients to u. portion or potions oi the cast meta after it has been poured for the purpose 9 creating combustion therein; substantially as described.

The herein described process of casting. which consists in pouring a mold and crew. ing a combustion in ortions of the cast. metal while other portions thereof are cooling, to thereby maintain the lirstnamed poi' tions in a fluid condition, and during such operation lcedin the castin with material adapted to supply metalloirs thereto; substantially as described.

The herein described method of casting, which consists in pouring a mold and so plying air to portions ot the char e whi e other portions are cooling, to there y cause a combustion Within that portion to which air is supplied, and feeding material to the fluid portion of the charge to compensate for the losses due to the combustion; substantially as described.

A'step in the art of making castings, which consists in generating heat within that portion of the charge which cools last so as to maintain the same in a molten condition while the remaining portions are cooling, substantially as described.

6. A step in the art of making castin which consists in supplying air and tli e necessary ingredients to the molten portion of the charge for the purpose of creutin combustion therein thereby maintaining said portion in a molten condition while other too portions of the charge are cooling, substantlully as described.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

F. E. MESTA. l-Vituesses Jon's Mimics, H. M. Coswm. 

